The Michigan Balance of State Continuum of CareThe Michigan Balance of State Continuum of Care Body (MI BOSCOC) represents 59 rural counties that are not part of a HUD recognized Continuum of Care (CoC) Body. Within these 59 largely rural and suburban counties, there are 33 Local Planning Bodies (LPB). The goal of an LPB is to bring together key partners in the community to best serve people living in poverty and homelessness. As a member of the MI BOSCOC, the 33 LPBs are provided technical assistance in implementing state and federal resources and delivering services. LPBs in Michigan administer approximately 419 homeless programs. LPB program types include, but are not limited to: the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program, emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing. Annually, LPBs serve over 11,500 persons experiencing homelessness.To further understand Michigan’s relationship with HUD, it is important to note that there are 83 counties in Michigan, 59 counties are part of the MI BOSCOC and the remaining 24 counties are a part of other Continuum of Care (CoC) Bodies that apply directly to HUD. The 59 counties consist of Local Planning Bodies (LPBs) who collaborate for planning purposes and the application to HUD through the MI BOSCOC application process.

MissionMI BOSCOC promotes the prevention and ending of homelessness by developing and maintaining a system to coordinate federal and statewide resources and services for people experiencing homelessness in the Michigan Balance of State geographic area

VisionNo one is homeless – everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.

Our Priorities Are To:

Prioritize vulnerable populationsHomelessness has significant detrimental effects on everyone, yet there are some whose health and safety are placed at even greater risk for harm without a safe and stable place to call home. These groups include, but are not limited to: children, youth, chronically homeless, individuals fleeing from domestic violence situations, veterans and people with disabilities. Strategies to identify and assist the most vulnerable groups will be prioritized.Promote justice for all vulnerable populationsTo eliminate the disproportionate rates of homelessness among many communities of vulnerable populations, we will adopt strategies to achieve equity in both access and outcomes in all areas of housing and services. These strategies will include culturally specific services, using a racially equitable lens across all program investments and dedicated funds to eliminate disparities.Use data-driven assessment and accountabilityTo best utilize our resources, we must understand the outcomes of our investments, evaluate progress and demonstrate accountability. We will continue to improve and expand our community-wide data system so funders and providers can efficiently collect data, share knowledge for better client outcomes and report outcomes against the goals of the CoC.Engage and involve the communityPolicy makers and community stakeholders must understand the magnitude of the challenge, the costs if we do not meet the challenge, our strategies for ending homelessness and the importance of obtaining and allocating resources equal to our aspirations. An action plan for ending homelessness in Michigan will ensure that the specific concerns and interests of our local, regional and national stakeholders are heard and addressed.Strengthen system capacity and increase leveraging opportunitiesThe longstanding solutions to prevent and end homelessness transcend multiple systems of care, foster care, education, domestic violence, community justice, health, mental health and addictions and available resources. To permanently end homelessness, we must strengthen efficiencies in our current system and better align other resources towards ending homelessness.